LEVEL: 100 LEVEL SEMESTER: FIRST

COURSE: USE OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION LITERACY

COURSE CODE: GNS 101
DURATION Lecture: 2hrs Tutorial: 0 Practical: 0 Credit units: 2
(Hours/weeks)

Lecture days: Mondays and Wednesdays.

GOAL: This course is designed to enable students acquire the techniques to utilise the library,
be information literate and build study skills.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: At the end of the course, the student should be able to:

I. Understand the concept of Library

II. Role of Library in Education
III. Identity and use the various library resources
IV. Search for resources both in the library and online
V. Copyright and implication
VI. Cite and reference resources.
Unit 1.0: Understand the meaning and scope of a library
1.1Describe a Library
1.2Importance of Library
1.3Types of Library
1.4Identify the different sections of a typical library.
1.5Roles of Library In Education
1.6Library stocks
Unit 2.0: Know how to use a Library
2.1 Explain the different types of classification schemes. e.g.
Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) and Library Congress (LC)
2.2 Describe the Library catalogues
2.3 Identify reference sources
2.4 Identify types of serials.
2.5 Explain indexing and Abstracting
2.6 Explain back to back Indexes
Unit 3.0 : Information Literacy Skills

3.1 Information retrieval skills

3.2 Database
3.3 Citation and reference
3.4 Copy right and its Implication

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JUSTIFICATIONS FOR TEACHING USE OF LIBRARY IN HIGHER INSTITUTIONS.
There are various reasons for teaching the use of library in any higher Institution they include:
 To educate students on how to use the library effectively.
 To develop in the students the interest and habits of using the library all the time even
after higher education.
 Expose the students to the rich and different types of information resources in the library
and teach students how to use these resources.
 Teach students how to use their leisure time meaningfully.
 To enable the students’ master the rules and regulations of the library in order to exploit
the resources of the library effectively.
 Enable the students to be conversant with the library services which offer them the
opportunity of getting the information required
 To enlighten students about the conducive library environment and physical facilities for
meaningful academic work.
 To preserve literary heritage of a society for posterity by preserving the information
source in the library through various security checks for future use.
 Ensure the conservation and transmission of the culture of the people from generation to
generation by preserving human knowledge and keeping the students abreast of the
activities of man.
 To impart in students’ independent study habits through contact with books and other
resources.

1.1 DESCRIBE A LIBRARY

A library can be defined as a collection of books and non-book material that is organized and
kept for reading, studying and consultation (L.O. Aina 2004). Ternenge(2019) asserted that
library can be described as a systematic acquisition of information resources in several formats
which are organized, stored, preserved and made available and accessible for use.
A library can also be defined as a collection of resources organized and made accessible to a
specific community for reference or borrowing and not for sale. It provides physical or digital
access to materials and may be in a physical building or room, a visual space or both.
A library’s collection includes books, periodicals, Newspapers, Manuscripts, films, Maps,
Videotapes, DVDs, electronic Journals, audio books, and online databases. It is neither the size
of the collection nor the magnificence of the building that makes a complete library. A collection
of information materials can reside in a bookstore or a warehouse, it only qualifies as a library if
the materials are systematically organized to meet the information needs of present and
prospective uses.
1.2 IMPORTANCE OF A LIBRARY
The central mission of a library is to collect, organize, preserve and provide access to knowledge
and information. Thus its importance:
1. Library is an essential link in communication between the past, present and future.
2. People in many professions use library resources to assist them in their work.

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 3. People also use library resources to gain information about personal interests or to obtain
recreational materials such as films and novels.
4. Students use the libraries to supplement and enhance their classroom experiences, to
learn skills in locating sources of information and to develop good reading and study
habits.
5. The library provides information and services that are essential to life learning and
progress.

1.3 TYPES OF LIBRARIES

Because no single library can contain the information sought or wanted by every potential user,
there are mainly six types of libraries performing various functions in the society to serve
different needs.
1. Academic libraries: are libraries of tertiary institutions like the universities,
polytechnics, colleges of education, colleges of agriculture, Major seminaries and
theological colleges etc. Academic libraries are mainly established to provide academic
support to the courses offered by their parent institutions. Examples of academic libraries
are John Harris Library of university of Benin, MLU library, etc.
2. School Libraries: are libraries set up in the nursery, primary and secondary schools to
cater for the teaching and learning interests of the pupils, students and their teachers. The
modern trend is to establish school media resources. The Media resources centre
integrates the print and non-print materials to facilitate individuals as well as group
learning by the pupils. Examples of school libraries are International school library,
Ibadan, Igbinedion Education Centre library, Benin City.
3. Special Libraries: are also referred to as research libraries. The special library serves the
interest of research institutions and people working in an organization with specified
subject interest, which is usually on a narrow discipline. Therefore, to be a special library,
it is either that the users are special or the materials are special. Examples of special
libraries are the Central Bank of Nigeria Library (CBN), International Institute of
Tropical Agriculture library, Ibadan (IITA).
4. Private Libraries: private libraries are owned by individuals or organizations like
churches. The ones owned by individuals arise out of the owner’s either educational,
political or economic activities or out of the desire to offer services to the public on a
commercial basis. Private libraries belonging to organizations to support the work done
in the organizations including evangelism. Examples of private libraries include Ministry
libraries and the library of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo at his Ikenne residences,
Obasanjo’s library at Ota Ogun State.
5. Public Libraries: are common referred to the people’s university. They are established
and maintained by the individual state government through taxpayers’ money. They
provide free services to members of the community where they exist and are meant to
meet the study, information, educational, vocational, recreational and cultural needs of
the host community members irrespective of nationality, age, sex, sexual orientation,
religion, language, status, political inclination and level of education. The level of
services rendered by the public library depends largely on the resources made available
by the government. They usually have their headquarters at the state capitals and
branches at the local government headquarters or in major towns as the case may be. In

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 some cases, they use mobile libraries to reach areas where branch libraries do not exist.
Examples of Public Libraries are Edo State Library board, Oyo State Public library etc.
6. National Libraries: are libraries that are usually established and maintained by national
government of different countries. They are regarded as the apex library of any country.
By law they operate and coordinate library services nation-wide. National libraries are
usually back by legal deposit law to collect and preserve for posterity specified number of
copies for every published material produced in the country. It is a legal deposit library
receiving and preserving for posterity all published materials in Nigeria. The national
library is the body responsible for assigning the International Standard Book Number
(ISBN) and International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) to publishers and authors.
Examples of National libraries are National Library of Nigeria, Abuja, National library of
Kenya and the library of congress of the United State.

1.4 SECTIONS OF A TYPICAL LIBRARY

Libraries are organised into sections and departments for easy administration and dissemination
of information. In an ideal setting, libraries have to assist the users to identify materials they
require by maintaining adequate stock and ensuring that they are preserved, stored and organised
to ease the retrieval of these materials. The sequences of operation allow job flow from one
department to another until the processing circle is completed. The terminal point is the Readers
Services Department where the patron comes in contact with the needed material.
The departmentalization of an ideal library could fall into three (3 ) major departments, which
could further be divided into units. These departments include the administrative, technical and
reader’s services departments.

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1.5 ROLES OF LIBRARY IN EDUCATION
The Library is a valuable resource center, where students cannot afford to ignore if they must
achieve academic success. The traditional roles of libraries are acquisitions, organization,
preservation and dissemination of information. However, the library carries out six (6) major
roles to enhance teaching, learning and research.
Functions/ Roles of the Library in teaching, learning and research
1. Information role: Libraries are providers of information sources that are relevant to
students to augment their lecture notes with ideas and facts obtained from other sources.
Information is needed by all in order to communicate effectively and efficiently.
Communication agencies like television houses, radio stations and the print media require
information to provide information to the people. Lecturers on their parts would require
students to go the library to search for the relevant reference cited by them. Students also
consult libraries for suitable reference materials whenever they are confronted with the
problem of writing term papers, projects etc.
2. Educational role: Libraries in modern times are established for educational purpose. No
institution can exist without a well-established, organized and functional library.
Libraries help to stimulate educational growth as well as serve as instrument for bringing
up well-informed citizenry. Libraries expose students to new areas of study through
compiled bibliographies. Academic and school libraries lend support to classroom
teaching, through the provision of relevant library materials. Libraries perform their
educational functions at four stages: (i) Formal (provides curriculum-oriented materials to
meet the goals and objectives of their parent institutions). (ii) Informal (provides general-
purpose materials. (iii) Non-formal (provides materials that are relevant to improve on
the various existing trades, such as carpentry, mechanics, woodwork and other fields. (iv)
Propaganda (providing materials that could aid the propagation of important ideas,
information and points of view.
3. Custodial role: preservation and conservation of records of human knowledge are
essential role of libraries. Libraries play these custodial roles by ensuring that library
materials such as records of human knowledge, history and culture of different ages and
civilization are preserved and conserved. Thus, libraries are known as repositories of
knowledge. Without libraries, human ideas would not have been passed from generation
and researches involving the past would not have been possible.
4. Recreational role: Libraries provides materials that enhance leisure reading, sometimes
after some rigorous work, one goes to the library to do some form of light reading
regarded as recreational. Such materials that are meant for leisure reading in the libraries
include Newspapers, magazines, Novels or fiction books etc.
5. Preservation of culture role: a culture reflects the ways of life of a people, which
include their mode of dressing, festivities, farming, technology, music, dancing etc.
These when documented are acquired, organized, preserved and disseminated to users by
libraries. In Africa, where most of the oral forms of culture are fast fading away because
of western cultural influence, the only hope for cultural preservation is the documentation
by libraries. Apart from preservation of printed matters, libraries acquire and preserve
artifacts that are priceless, which can be termed “jewels of culture”.

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 6. Research role: Libraries play important role in the research process of researchers. A
good researcher is expected to be aware of the state of the existing knowledge and have
access to information that could help him/her to build up his/her own theory or
knowledge. Libraries provide the needed backup materials that will satisfy the enquiry
needs of researchers. Such materials as compiled bibliographies, lists of completed as
well as on-going researches.

THE CONCEPT OF LIBRARY STOCK

Library stock is central to the provision of services to library users. The absences of these will
make it impossible for libraries to meet the various needs of their users.
1.6 Meaning and Forms of library stocks
Library stock could be defined as all the resources that are contained in the library. They could
be called information resources, information materials, Library collections, Library holdings etc.
No library can exist without collection of materials, which are meant to meet the educational,
informational, recreational, research, cultural and recreational fulfillment of library users. In
order to achieve service objectives, academic libraries provide the following Library Stocks
1. Reading Space
2. Printed books/ Periodicals
3. Electronic Books/Periodicals
4. These/Projects
5. Library Website
6. Computers with Internet Access:
7. Library Catalogue

2.1 TYPES OF CLASSIFICATION SCHEME

2.1.1 Definition of Classification

Classification: Classification is the process by which we group things according to their
likenesses and separate them according to their differences. Convenience is the overriding factor
in the way things are classified. The essence of classification is for quick accessibility to
knowledge.
Classification in libraries is the systematic arrangement of books and other information materials
by subject in a logical sequence by bringing together on the shelves all books on a particular
subject such as Nursing, Midwifery, Mathematics and Sociology, etc. Thus, all resources on a
given subject are arranged in close proximity on the shelf through the process of standard and
recognized classification schemes or systems.
2.1.2 Advantages of classification schemes
1. The purpose of classification is to make sure that the users’ time and energy are not
wasted
2. It brings books on the same subject together for easy access
3. It makes the library materials readily available
4. To show the relationship between subjects

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 5. The systematic arrangement of information in books makes retrieval of materials by users
easier.

2.1.3 Types of Classification Schemes

There are various classification schemes in use in libraries with the aim of bringing together all
books under specific subject. They include:
1. Library of Congress classification scheme (LC)
2. Dewey decimal classification scheme (DDC)
3. Universal Decimal classification scheme (UDC)
4. Colon classification scheme
5. National Library of Medicine classification scheme (NLM)
This course will discuss the library of congress (LC) and the Dewey Decimal Classification
(DDC) Scheme, as these are the two most common schemes in use in most Nigerian libraries.
 Library of Congress Classification (LC)
The library of congress classification scheme was established in 1800 and was originally
designed for use in library of congress, USA. Simultaneously to classify library materials (mixed
notation). It grouped knowledge into 21 major classes using 21 of the 26 Roman alphabets to
indicate the broad or general subject classes while the Arabic numerals narrow down each main
subject to its specifics. The 5 letters of the alphabets yet to be used in the LC schemes for
classification include I,O,W,X and Y.
Outline of the library of congress main classes
A- General Works
B- Philosophy, Psychology and Religion
C- History (General Civilisation, Genealogy)
D- History (General and Old world)
E-F American History
G- Geography, Anthropology, Recreation
H- Social Sciences
J- Political Science
K- Law
L- Education
M- Music
N- Fine Art
P- Language and Literature
Q- Sciences
R- Medicine
S- Agriculture
T- Technology
U- Military Science
V- Naval Sciences
Z- Bibliography and Library Science
 The Dewey Decimal Classification Scheme (DDC)

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 Melvil Dewey an American Librarian devised the Dewey decimal classification in 1876. The
scheme is mostly use by small and public/school libraries. Dewey grouped knowledge into ten
broad subject areas using only Figures from 000-900(pure notation).

Outline of DDC
Classes Subject Areas
000-099 Generalities (General Works not limited to any discipline
100-199 Philosophy and related Disciplines
200-290 Religion
300-399 Social Sciences
400-499 Languages
500-599 Pure Science
600-699 Applied Science (Technology)
700-799 Arts
800-899 Literature and Rhetoric
900-999 General History, Geography, Biography

2.2 DESCRIPTION AND USE OF TYPES OF LIBRARY CATALOGUES

2.2.1 Definition of Library Catalogue

A library catalogue is the most important tool for organizing a library’s collection. A library
catalogue is defined as a list of materials in a library collection providing such information as
author, title, publisher, amongst others.
It is refer to as the register of all bibliographic items found in a library or group of libraries, such
as a network of libraries at several locations. The catalogue is a guide to the materials present in
the collection so that the retrieval of any material could be easy when needed.
It is a pointer to a library’s collection. It provides a complete list of all the library holdings. For
the proper use of the library, one cannot afford to by-pass.
2.2.2 Functions of a Library Catalogue
 Providing a complete bibliographic description of every item in a library collection,
which can be accessed by the name of the author, title, subject or any other access point.
 Enabling a user to know if a library has a particular item being sought in its collection
 Enabling a user to locate an item present in a collection on the shelves, if the item has not
been borrowed by a user or mis-shelved or stolen from the library.
 Enabling a user to know all the items on a subject present in a collection or all the items
authored by a particular author in a collection.
 Assisting a user to make a choice of what to read as regards the edition.
2.2.3 Characteristics of a Good Library Catalogue
 Must be flexible and easy to update
 Easy access to entries in a catalogue
 Must not be too expensive to implement
 Must not occupy too much space
 Must be easy to use

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  Must be secured

2.2.4 Forms or Types of Catalogue

The library catalogue could be in the following physical format: Card catalogue, Book/Printed
Catalogue, Machine Readable Catalogue (MARC) and Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC)
1. Card Catalogue: The card catalogue system is the commonest form of library catalogue
among African libraries. Each bibliographic record of an item is recorded on a 3 inches
by 5 inches card (usually written as ‘3 X 5’ card). All the cards for all the items are
generally arranged in an alphabetical order in what is called a catalogue tray or a drawer.
These drawers are neatly fitted together in a catalogue cabinet. The main advantage of the
card catalogue is flexibility. Because it enables the library staff to insert and withdraw
cards as they deem necessary.
Approaches to a Card Catalogue
I. Author Catalogue Card
II. Title Catalogue Card:
III. Subject Catalogue
Advantages of Card Catalogue
I. Flexibility and Currency: Staff time and size of collection growth permitting, cards for
new materials can be added quickly and cards easily removed for those items no longer in
the collection.
II. Ease of Use: Library clients are comfortable with the alphabetical approach and can
easily adapt to divided catalogue.
III. Availability: The likelihood of more than one person needing the same catalogue drawer
at the same time is minimal
IV. Cost: In smaller libraries, the cost of maintaining a card catalogue is not overly expensive

Disadvantages of Card Catalogues

I. Size: As the collection grows, so does the card catalogue. This takes up precious space
which could be used to house other materials.
II. Human Error: Even the most careful filer can make mistakes and someone checking for
accuracy can overlook these mistakes. A single card misfiled can lead to another card
being misfiled.
III. Because of the way card are filed, only one bibliographic item can be viewed at a time
only the first word of a title or subject heading is accessible. If a patron cannot remember
the first word of a title or does not know the exact subject heading, he or she may not find
the item.
IV. Individual cards are not easily altered and may have to be reprinted. Before computer
production of cards, many libraries purchased electric erasers to remove outdated
headings on cards.
2. Book Catalogue: This is the oldest form of catalogue. The bibliographic information
about all the books in the library are entered in a book and arranged alphabetically. This
system is inflexible unlike the card catalogue. However, they are portable and can as well
be deposited in various strategic places in the library.

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 3. Machine –Readable Catalogue (MARC): This is catalogue in which the bibliographic
records appear on a microfilm or microfiche. They require a machine or a reader before
users can read the records. The disadvantage is that microform readers are expensive. But
the advantage is that it can accommodate very large records.
4. Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC): This is the most modern form of library
catalogue. It requires a microcomputer with a large memory space to function effectively.
The bibliographic records of all the documents in a collection are stored in the computer
memory disk. It possesses all the advantages of all other forms of catalogue. It can also
be accessed via remote computers and can be accessed through the internet. The only
disadvantages are cost, security and electricity.

2.3 IDENTIFY REFERENCE SOURCES

One of the important functions of a library is the use of its resources such as reference and
information sources to provide information to users on request.
References sources or books are those planned or written to be referred to for a specific type of
information rather than to be read all through.
References sources are documents that contain miscellaneous information on any topic be it an
event or individual. These references sources are not meant to be read from cover to cover, they
are usually consulted for some definite information. They contain facts that have been assembled
from many sources and organized for easy and quick use. By their arrangement, coverage and
design, they are meant to be consulted for definite information. References sources provide
answers to questions on Who, When, Where, What, Why etc.
2.3.1 Features of References sources
1. They are meant to be consulted for specific information and not to be read all through,
and this makes them really unique
2. Reference books are expected to be in the library at all times, hence they are not usually
borrowed out. They can only be made use of in the library where they are stocked.
3. Reference books are usually stamped “reference” so that they are not mistakenly shelved
in the open-access collections of the library.
4. They concentrate on facts rather than delving into issues that could generate arguments.
5. They are usually arranged alphabetically for statistical information the arrangement is
tabular while it is chronological for historical publication.

2.3.2 Categories of References Source

Reference sources can be categorized mainly into three sources namely:

 Primary Sources
 Secondary Sources.
 Tertiary Sources
Secondary and tertiary sources constitute the reference sources that are used mainly in the library
by reference librarians to supply information that would meet the reference queries of users.
2.3.3 Types of References Sources

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  Indexes: An index is a table which serves as a guide in locating desired information.
There are subject and periodical indexes. Subject indexes are found at the end of
standard text books, they give the page numbers in the main text book where important
words, concepts, or terms are used. Some publications also incorporate author index.
Periodical indexes are essential parts of bibliographical coverage. They enable one to
trace articles appearing in periodical literature and on a particular subject or by a
particular topic, one would refer to the appropriate periodical index where articles
treating the topic are listed, titles of journal in which they are published, and
bibliographical details such as volume number and date of publication. Without
indexes it will be difficult knowing what articles are available on a given subject.
Some of the periodicals indexes are published monthly or quarterly. Examples of
indexes are Newswatch magazines, New York Times and the Glasgow Herald.

 Encyclopedias
 Yearbooks
 Hand books and Manuals
 Almanacs
 Directories
 Dictionaries
 Geographical Sources
 Gazetteers
 Guidebooks
 Biographical Source
 Bibliographies
 Abstracts

2.4 IDENTIFY TYPES OF SERIALS

Serials are publications with distinctive titles issued in successive parts, at specific periods
and intended to be continued indefinitely. Serials include newspapers, magazines, journals,
bulletins, proceedings newsletter etc.
They are called serials because they are published in series and usually come out with
distinctive titles, which distinguish them from one another as well as from other works. In
addition, they come out at regular intervals with no pre-determined end, which could be
daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly or annually depending on the type of information they are
supposed to publish. Serials are very important library resources because they contain current
information. They are indispensable when it comes to writing an assignment, a project as
well as research.
2.4.1 Features of Serials
 Some serials titles and numbering are changed most frequently
 Another feature of serial is the problem of identification as some serials have common
titles.
 Some serials are published in translated language while others are in original language.
 Two separate journals may be merged into one.

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  It may be difficult to determine the regularity of some serial materials. This is so because
some are not published at the stated time.

2.4.2 Importance of Serials

 Serials materials keep researchers abreast of growth of knowledge in their field of
investigation.
 Professionals such as Librarians, Nurses, Doctors and lecturers are also kept abreast by
journals published by their respective associations.
 Serials materials carry latest information of new ideas that are useful to researchers.

2.4.3 Advantages of Serials

 They are current and up to date
 They are subscribed to
 No planned end to the sequence
 The publication interval varies, some are bi-annual, monthly, quarterly, fortnightly,
weekly and annually
 The contents of each issue is different
 The publisher might change

2.4.4 Disadvantages of Serials

 Elusiveness, as most of them are not published by commercial organizations
 The tendency of serials to change name, divide into two or three separate
publications, die or lay dormant for several years.
 The difficulties in being aware of which issues have not yet been received possible
changes of publisher.
 Some serials, especially in research libraries, are not bought but are gifts or exchange
 The physical problems of storing and circulating individual issues
 Being aware of when all the issues of a volume have been received and so ready to
be sent to the binders.

2.5 INDEXING AND ABSTRACTING

2.5.1 Index
 Index: An index is a table which serves as a guide in locating desired information. There
are subject and periodical indexes. Subject indexes are found at the end of standard text
books, they give the page numbers in the main text book where important words,
concepts, or terms are used.
 Indexing: Indexing therefore is the process of compiling a list of information arranged
alphabetically to enhance the retrieval of information necessary for research. An example
of indexing include the serials indexing. Serials indexing are essentially the process of
entering into notebook, card or databases vital information that will help users identify
article in newspapers and magazines. Such vital information may include the author of
the article, the title of the paper, the date, and volume or number the journal and the page
number.
 Examples of Good Index Entries

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 Court orders Suspects to produce bail documents, Pointer, Oct.31st, 2009. P.9 or
Court orders Suspects to produce bail documents/Innocent Osakwe. Pointer, Oct.31st,
2009. p.9
 Indexing Headings
Indexing headings are the broad area or subject under which index entries could be entered.
Examples of Good Index Heading are Education, Economy, Health, Politics and
Government, Fashion, Agriculture, and Business etc.
2.5.2 Abstract
 Abstracts: Abstracts list and provide summaries for articles in the original language or in
translation. Abstracts are very essential as they are means of providing current awareness
on what has been published on a particular subject. In addition they save reader’s time by
helping them decide whether or not to read a particular publication having got a useful
insight into the main detail work.
 Abstracting: Abstracting therefore is a process of producing a summary of a publication
or article accompanied by an adequate bibliographical description to enable the
publication to be identified and traced for research purpose. Examples of abstracting
journals are Chemical Abstracts, Education Abstracts, and Science Abstracts etc.

2.6 EXPLANATION OF BACK TO BACK BOOK INDEXES

Indexes: An index is a table which serves as a guide in locating desired information. There are
two (2) types of indexes, they are the Subject and Periodicals indexes.
Book indexes: These are indexes that are found at the back of the book, they give the page
numbers in the main text book where important words, concepts, or terms are used. It has
become usual for every standard book to have a back of the book index, since the index usually
contains important topics described in the document, names of personalities, corporate bodies
and geographical names along with the page numbers in which they are located.
Periodicals indexes: are essential parts of bibliographical coverage. They enable one to trace
articles appearing in periodical literature and on a particular subject or by a particular author,
with a given title. It indicates the bibliographical details such as volume number and date of
publication. Without indexes it will be difficult knowing what articles are available on a given
subject. Some of the periodical indexes are published monthly or quarterly.
3.1 INFORMATION LITERACY
Information Literacy is the ability to find, evaluate, organize, use and communicate information
in various formats, most notably in situations requiring decision making, solving problems or
acquiring knowledge and research. An information literate, is a person that is be able to
recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively
the needed information.

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3.1.2 Components of Information Literacy

3.1.3 Tips for online information search

• Choose the right search engine
• Use the right keywords
• Use quotation marks to make your search more specific
• Remove unhelpful terms from your search
• Use operators to refine your search
• Use Advanced Search options
• Consider search history
3.1.4 Evaluation of online information sources
Evaluation using CRAAP Model

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3.2 DATABASE
Database: Databases are organized collections of structured information/data stored
electronically. A database is usually managed by a database management system (DBMS).
Database Management system (DBMS): it serves as an interface between the database and it’s
end users allowing users to retrieve, update, and manage how information is organized and
optimized.
Uses of Databases
1. To create, edit and maintain database files and records
2. It handles data storage
3. Allows multi- access control and security.
Examples of Databases
Proquest, Hinari, Agora, GoAli, Science direct etc.
Search Engine: It is a Software program that Enable Users to find information they are
searching for online using Keywords or phrase.
Example of Search Engines
Google, Google scholar, Bing, Yahoo, Youtube, Titok etc.
Boolean Operators
o Use UPPERCASE for boolean operators
o Use quotation sign for operators
o Enclose keywords/terms in parenthesis for priority

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Free Journals (Medical & Health Sciences)
o PMC (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/)
o BMC (https://www.biomedcentral.com/)
o PLoS (https://plos.org/)
o Medline Plus (https://medlineplus.gov/)
o DOAJ (https://doaj.org/)
Free Books (General)
o Libgen (https://libgen.is/) ext=st&rs
o PDF drive (https://pdfdrive.com/)
o Bookboon (https://bookboon.com/)
Free Thesis (General)
• OATD (https://oatd.org/)
• PhDdata (https://phddata.org/)
Stories and news (Medical & Health Sciences)
o Medscape (https://reference.medscape.com/)
o WebMD (https://www.webmd.com/)
Q&A (Medical & Health Sciences)
o Ask a Doctor (https://www.icliniq.com/ask-a-doctor-online)
o Quora (https://www.quora.com/)
Specific medical encyclopedia communities:
o WikiDoc (https://www.wikidoc.org/index.php/Main_Page)
o Wikimedica (wikimedi.ca)
o Wikisurgery (https://www.wikidoc.org/index.php/Wikisurgery)
o Eyewiki (https://eyewiki.org/Main_Page)
o Radiopaedia (https://radiopaedia.org/)
o WikiAnesthesia (https://wikianesthesia.org/wiki/Main_Page)

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 o WikiMSK (https://wikimsk.org/wiki/Main_Page)

3.3 CITATION AND REFERENCE

Referencing: It is a way used to demonstrate to your readers that you have done a thorough and
appropriate literature search and reading,
Referencing is acknowledging the ideas and written resources used belonging to other authors in
your own work.
Some common referencing styles:
APA, NLM, MLA, Chicago, Vancouver etc.
Citation: Acknowledging an author’s work in the text of your own work, referring either to their
ideas or by direct quotation.
Bibliography: Are author’s work which you consult in your research but not necessary cited in
your body of work.
Plagiarism: Is a form of passing off someone’s ideas as your own. It could either be through
patching writing or even self- plagiarism
Tools for Citation and Referencing
• Paraphrasing tools
o Quillbot (https://quillbot.com/)
o Grammarly (https://www.grammarly.com/paraphrasing-tool)

• Plagiarism Checker
o Paper checker (https://www.paperrater.com/)
o Turnitin (https://www.turnitin.com/)

• Reference generators
o AMA citation generator (https://www.citationmachine.net/ama)
o Bibliography (https://www.bibliography.com/generator/)
3.4 COPYRIGHT AND ITS IMPLICATION
Copyright: it refers to the Legal right of the owner of the intellectual property. The original
creators of products and anyone they give authorization to are the only ones with the exclusive
right to reproduce the work. Examples of unique creation that can be protected are novels,
computer software, musical lyrics and compositions, film etc.

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  Copyright law protects creators of original materials from unauthorized duplication or
use.
 Original work can only be protected by the copyright Laws, if it is in tangible form
 Forms of protection for property that cannot be copyrighted include trademark and
patents.
Difference Between Patent, Copyright And Trademark
A patent protects new inventions, processes, or scientific creations, a trademark protects
brands, logos, and slogans, and a copyright protects original works of authorship.
Copyright Infringement: It is the use or production of copyright protected materials without
the permission of copyright holder.

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